MODERN BUSINESS MAGAZINE
1. What inspired you to start your business? What are your goals and values?
I reached a beautiful point in life where I made the choice to work in ‘purpose’. I’m referring to that place in ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ where we become our altruistic self- the self that focuses on being a support to others, within a space of our own personal passion. For me this space is ‘executive coaching’- guiding senior managers to maximise both their professional and personal potential. My goal is to prime leaders to function as the exquisite role models they choose to be, by their own definition. I highly value confidentiality, vulnerability and a sense of fun.
2. What was the driving force behind your decision to specialise in this area of business?
I was magnetised to the one-on-one coaching dynamic, the absolute thrill and privilege of being trusted to share in the workings of someone else’s world. Beforehand, I’d spent many wonderful years working in the corporate space wearing a collection of hats- that of trainer, key-note speaker, coach, program developer and manager. All energising and exciting in their own right, but for me over the years, the coaching experience was the most satisfying and inspiring of them all. I chose to create my own company so that I could narrow my energies to that specific role.
3. What types of customers do you help? What experience do you have helping small business customers?
When I first opened the Company my clients were from my zone of familiarity- managers and leaders from all walks of the corporate world, the majority of which sat in the global IT vertical. These customers use executive coaching as a means of sound boarding professional development strategies and to enhance their personal growth as leaders. Small business owners are interested in exactly the same experience and my customer base in that space is growing.
4. Do you service other sectors as well?
Interestingly, many of my corporate clients had friends and partners who were attracted to the process but from a more personal ‘life-coaching’ perspective. A separate division was set-up to cater to these customers in order to provide them with an economical and effective solution.
5. What are the main reasons that someone would choose you to help grow/develop/improve their business?
They wouldn’t choose to work with me for practical purposes, such as enhancing business strategy. Instead, they would request my services for the more subjective` skill sets, such as developing their emotional intelligence or learning to manage their mindset in order to achieve success. The improvement and development of their business would be an outgrowth of their enhanced leadership and people engagement skills. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy when it comes to bringing our vision to fruition. ‘Thought therapy’ can be a powerful tool to help us succeed at both our personal and professional goals.
6. What process, services and support do your clients receive?
A coaching contract is generally comprised of a minimum of 8 sessions spread over a varied period of time, depending on how quickly the client is interested in effecting change. Coaching can be tremendously organic and spontaneous and as coaches we are lucky to have an enormous amount of models and tools available to us to draw upon in the moment. I’m also a counsellor so can move down that road whenever required. My years of facilitating programs in the soft skills, also allows me to draw from a generous bucket of practical knowledge on a plethora of topics. Sessions are conducted live on-site whenever possible and clients receive support whenever needed by phone or email in between sessions.
7. What challenges did you face in setting up your business?
To be honest, my primary challenge was in adjusting to working solo, away from the family-like caccoon of the corporate space and instead, in a quiet home office. As a coach, most working hours are spent on-site with the client but that’s very much a focused intensity. So yes, I would say I missed the morning coffee banter with colleagues around the water cooler and also had to work hard to combat the strong pull of procrastination in the morning when I needed to be working to set up the business logistics, website, and accounting processes. It’s so easy to throw in a load of laundry…smiling.
8. Tell us about some of the expectations that you had. Have they been met?
I’m so pleased to say ‘yes’, both met and exceeded. My initial expectations for the business began as a singular focus on building a client base around senior corporate leaders, and having a schedule that was full enough to be lucrative but also left a space for life balance. I remember the day though, when it occurred to me that I wanted to find a way to make the business more scalable. Suddenly it was important to reach multiples of people at a time, private or corporate, with a coaching process that could guide them to enhanced levels of personal fulfilment. At this stage I shifted my business model to incorporate that capability and it’s a buzz.
9. What types of services do you offer?
I offer, 1×1 coaching, group leadership coaching/training, webinars, keynote speaking and a suite of products that accompany the coaching experience.
10. Do you provide services nationally?
Yes I do, and also have clients in the Asia, the US, and EMEA.
11. Do you have any plans for overseas expansion?
Yes, I’m hoping that one of my products will be the catalyst for further expansion into the US and England, in the near future.
12. What would you say to someone looking for a business consultant and what advice would you give them?
In setting up the business, I‘ve had to engage several specialist consultants myself, and the one thing that I’ve definitely needed, but not always had enough of is CLARITY. My suggestion would be to take as much time as you can to gain clarity about exactly WHAT your key objectives are and why. With that detail in mind you’ll more easily be able to sift through the references to find the consultant that will be just right for you and for what you are looking to achieve.
13. Have you written a book? If so, please tell us a bit about what business owners can get out of it.
Yes, I’m the author of “COACH YOURSELF” A 7-Step Guide to Personal Fulfilment. My goal when writing it was to bring as much of the exhilaration of the 1×1 coaching experience to the reader as possible and to offer a process by which they can coach themselves through any personal change or transition they desire. For example, as a business owner, I might notice that my inner voice is negative and restrictive and I sense that it is literally limiting my ability to thrive and succeed. Perhaps I suddenly realise that I’ve been so focused on building my business that I’ve left family and life balance in the dust. Or as a final example, presenting a proposal to win business sends me into a nervous frenzy and is reducing my confidence levels and ability to build trust with the customer. There are an unlimited number of situations natural to each one of us, but each can be improved using self-awareness, and a commitment to making the effort to change. The book provides an easy 7-step process to follow to help move you through the transition and into the exact working life you want.
